Electrical connection



Dec.- 23, 1924.

C. H. OCUMPAUGH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed July 1, 1921 ZSheets-Sheet 1 i=5? 1 A. a

INVENTOR BY Z :j a ATTORNEYS.

. Dec. 23. 1924- I 1,520,073 C. H. OCUMPAU-GH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed July 1, 1921 '2 Sheets-$heet 2 I Ma Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAU'GH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL Application filed July 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connections, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electrical connections and more particularly to the type in which a plug is fitted in a socket.

At the present time two types of plugs are generally employed one in which a sleeve acts as one terminal and a terminal is arranged at one end of the insulator at a cent'al point with reference to the sleeve and known as a single contact in the trade, and the other in which a sleeve merely acts as an enclosure for the insulator and two terminals are arranged on the insulator eccentrically with reference to the sleeve and known as a double contact to the trade. These plugs are not interchangeable, that is, neither plug is adapted for connection with a socket designed for the other plug.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plug adapted for connection with the connecting member designed for use with either of the two types of plugs above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug or member formed by an insulator having one terminal at its side and hav ing two terminals at one end, one of said end terminals connecting with the side terminal to permit the latter to be used as a conduc-= tor and one of the end terminals being constructed so that it may be engaged by a contact in the socket or other member of the connection arranged either centrally or eccentrically with reference to the plug insulator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical connecting member formed by an insulator having a side terminal, and having two terminals at one end of the sleeve, one of which is insulated from the side terminal, and the other of which is electrically connected to the side terminal by a means which is destroyed automatically should the plug be connected in a circuit in which the side terminal and the end terminal, that electrically connects therewith, produce an excess of current through the connection.

To these and other ends, the invention con- COIJNECTION.

1921. Serial No. 481,994.

sists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an incandescent lamp embodying the present invention, parts being broken away to shown the connection between one of the terminals and the sleeve;

Fig. lamp Fig. 3 is a. view of another side of the lamp;

4 is an end view of a socket now used in what is known as the double contact system;

Fig. 5 is a side view partially in section of the socket shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of a socket now used in what is known as a single contact system Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a known automobile lighting system employing the socket shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a known automobile lighting circuit employing the socket shown in Figs. 4: and 5;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a. known lighting and starting system employing the socket shown in F lgs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. 10 is a view partially in section of another embodiment of the invention.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in the base of an incandescent electric lamp, but it is apparent that it is not limited to such use. In Figs. land 5 is shown one type of socket now in general use, and in 6 the other type. The type shown in Figs. 4: and 5 comprises an insulator 1, and a metal sleeve 3 surrounding the insulator and projecting from one end thereof to provide the socket, the projecting portion being pro vided with bayonet slots 4 for interlocking with projections or pins on the plug or base of the other member of the connection. Two contacts or terminals 2 are mounted in the insulator eccentrically with reference to the sleeve for engagement by the terminals of the plug. The other type of socket embodies an insulator 5 surrounded by a sleeve 6 which projects at one side to provide the socket, this sleeve being also provided with bayonet slots 7 for engagement by pins or projections on the other member of the con- 2 is an end view of the base of the nection. A terminal 6 is arranged on the insulator at a central point with reference to the sleeve.

It is apparent that a plug with a centrally arranged terminal and a sleeve terminal will not connect with the two eccentrically arranged terminals of the socket shown in Figs. at and 5, and that a plug with two eccentrically arranged terminals will not connect with a socket having a centrally arranged terminal and sleeve terminal such as shown in Fig. 6.

The embodiment of this invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, provides an insulator 8, having at its side a terminal 9 such as a sleeve of conducting material extending about the insulator. At one end of the insulator, two end terminals 10 and 11 are provided. One of these end terminals, in this instance, indicated at 10, has a portion which is positioned centrally with reference to the insulator and a portion extending ecce-ntrically from the central portion. This construction permits the terminal 10 to contact with a centrally or an eccentrically arranged terminal on a socket member, so that an electrical connection may be established with a terminal on either type of socket. The other terminal 11 is eccentrically arranged and connects electrically with the sleeve terminal 9 through a connection 12. In this way a circuit may be established to a filament A or other device directly from the terminal 11 or indirectly by way of the sleeve terminal 9. It is apparent that, when the sleeve terminal 9 is used as an electrical contact, the central portion of the terminal 10 engages acentrally arranged terminal in a socket member, and that when the sleeve is not used as an electrical contact, the two terminals will engage with two terminals arranged eccentrically in a socket member.

In Fig. 7 is shown a diagram of a known automobile lighting system employing single contact lamps. In this system, 14 indicates the battery one side ofwhich is grounded at 15. This battery connects with the tail light 16 through a switch board 17 and with the head light 18 also through said switch board 17 the head lights being grounded at 19 and the tail light being grounded at 20. This system employs a socket, like that shown in Fig. 6, so that, when a lamp embodying the connection of the present invention is employed, with the system shown in Fig. 7, the sleeve 9 will connect with the ground 19 through the sleeve 6 and with the filament A through the connection 12 and the terminal 11, whereas the battery will connect with the filament A through the central contact (3 of the socket member through the terminal 10 on the lamp base of the plug.

The double contact lighting system, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8 is also of known construction embodying the battery 14, tail lamp 16 and head light lamps 18. This system is a two wire system and is controlled by a switch board 17, the head lights and tail lights being arranged in multiple. This system employs the socket shown in Figs. at and 5, the two wires of the circuit leading to each lamp, being connected to the terminals 2 which are eccentrically arranged within the sleeve 3, the sleeve, in this instance, forming no part of the circuit. \Vhen a lamp embodying the present invention is connected with the socket member, the two terminals 10 and 11 will engage with the terminals 2 of the socket member so that the sleeve 9 and the connection 12 of the lamp base or plug will perform no functions.

In Fig. 9 is shown a combination single and double contact lighting system which embodies a battery 14, a tail light 16 and head lights 18. The battery connects with a starter 21 and has its negative pole grounded at 22. The tail light is grounded at 29, while the head lights are arranged in series and grounded at 19. The circuit also employs a starter switch 2% controlling the starter 21, an ampere meter 24 and a generator 25 which is controlled through a cutout 26 and connects with the ground at 27. The lights 16 and 18 are controlled through a switch board 28, a fuse 29 being interposed between the switch board and the battery and the generator. This system employs, in the tail light a socket such as shown in Fig. 6, and generally uses a lamp which has acentral terminal in the base and a sleeve acting as the other terminal. It is apparent that the lamp base or plug of the present invention can also be utilized in the tail lamp of a system, shown in Fig. 9. The head lights 18 of this system usually employ the sockets, shown in Figs. 4: and 5, and it is apparent that a lamp equipped with the present invention can be employed in connection with such sockets. However, owing to the fact, that the sleeve 3 of the socket member is in most instances grounded, should a lamp base, constructed in accordance with this invention, be inserted in the socket so that the contact 11 would connect with the positive side of the battery, the filament A would receive an excess of current and, as a consequence, the lamp would burn out. In order to avoid this destruction of the filament A, provision is made whereby the connection between the sleeve 9 and the terminal 11 is automatically destroyed when the lamp is titted in the socket 3 so that the terminal 11, connects with the terminal 2 leading to the positive side of the battery. This result is secured. in this instance, by making the connection 12 of fusible material which will burn out upon the passage of an excess of current therethrough and, in this way, destroy the electrical connection between the sleeve 9 and the terminal 11. The amperage of the fuse may be the same for all or any candle power lamps now used 011 automobiles.

In the embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 10, 8 indicates an insulating member, which is not surrounded by a sleeve and is in the form of a plug adapted for insertion within a socket 2 This insulating member carries the bulb in which the filament A is arranged, this filament being connected to two contacts 10 and 11, the contact 1O having a centrally arranged por tion and an eccentrically arranged portion, and the contact 11 being eccentrically arranged. In this instance, the contact 11* is extended laterally so that it may be engaged with the wall of the socket 3. The extended portion 12 may be formed of fusible material so that this extended portion will form a fusible connection between the side wall of the socket and the main portion of the terminal 11 to burn out when the construction is used in the system, illustrated in Fig. 9, when an excess of current passes through the filament. It is apparent that this embodiment dispenses with the metal sleeve and has only the two end terminals, the connect-ion between one of these end terminals and the side walls of the socket being obtained by fusible means which is automatically destroyed when the connecting member is employed in a system where the connection with the side wall is undesirable.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided in an electrical connection of the type embodying a plug having an insulator with a surrounding metallic sleeve, means by which the sleeve may act as a terminal when connected with a socket having a central terminal and a sur rounding sleeve terminal, or by which the plug may connect with the socket having two eccentrically arranged terminals without requiring the use of the sleeve on the plug as a terminal. This result is secured, in this instance, by providing on the insulator of the plug two terminals one of which connects with the surrounding sleeve and is eccentrically arranged with reference to the insulator and the other of which is formed so that it extends laterally from a central point on the insulator in order to engage with a centrally arranged terminal of a socket member or an eccentrically arranged terminal of a socket member. The connection between the eccentrically arranged terminal and the sleeve is such that it becomes readily destroyed should the sleeve tend to short circuit the connection, this result being secured, in this instance, by constructing the connection of fusible material which readily burns out on a short circuit.

lVhile the invention has been more particularly designed for use in a plug of an electrical connection in which an insulator is surrounded by a sleeve of conducting material it is apparent that the invention is not limited to the use of a sleeve and that any means which will establish electrical connection between one of the terminals at the end of the insulator and the wall of a socket in which the plug is received is within the scope of this invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, a sleeve surrounding said insulator and formed of conducting material, two terminals carried by said insulator, one of said terminals being eccentrically arranged and the other of said terminals having a portion centrally arranged and extending laterally to an eccentric posi tion, and an electrical connection between one of said terminals and the sleeve constructed to be automatically destroyed upon the passage of an excessof current through the connection.

2. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, a sleeve surrounding said insulator and formed of conducting material, two terminals carried by one end of said insulator, one of said terminals being eccentrically arranged, and the other of said terminals being centrally arranged and extending laterally to an eccentric position, and a fuse connecting one of said terminals and the sleeve, constructed to be automatically destroyed upon the passage of an excess of current through the sleeve.

3. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, two terminals arranged at one end of the insulator, one of said terminals being eccentrically arranged, and the other of said terminals having a portion centrally arranged and a portion extending laterally from the centrally arranged por tion, and means connected to the first mentioned terminal for establishing an electrical connection with the wall of a socket memher in which the connecting member is received, said means having a fusible portion which is automatically destroyed upon the passage therethrough of an excess of current.

4. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, two terminals arranged at one end of the insulator, a sleeve surrounding the insulator, and an electrical connection between the sleeve and one of the terminals, destroyed upon the passage there through of an excess of current.

5. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, two terminals arranged at one end of the insulator, and electrical. conducting means leading from one of the terminals for connecting with the wall of a socket member in which the connecting member is inserted, said conducting means being constructed to be automatically dcstroyed upon the passage therethrough of an excess of current.

6. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, two terminals ar 'anged at one end of said insulator, a terminal arranged at the side of the insulator, and a connection between the latter terminal and 10 one of the end terminals, destroyed upon the passage therethrough of an excess of current.

7. An electrical connecting member comprising an insulator, two terminals arranged at one end of said insulator, a terminal arranged at the side of the insulator, and a fuse connecting the latter terminal and one of said end terminals and destroyed upon the passage therethrough of an excess of current.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH. 

